One of the essential elements of your new kitchen is your chosen colour palette. The right combinations can improve your kitchen design, adding critical aspects such as light and space. Mint Kitchen Group discovers trending colour combinations with top tips on choosing the best colour scheme for your new kitchen.

It can be daunting for homeowners to choose a colour scheme for their new kitchen. With so many choices, kitchen enthusiasts can understandably be left entirely overwhelmed by all the options available. Hints, hues, shades, and tones are in ample supply, so even though you may have an idea in mind, the pure volume of combinations can be endless. 

Colour combinations create mood and set the visual tone, which is why they are essential in the kitchen. Clever palettes can make spaces seem bigger or smaller, create an illusion of height, and bring warmth or coolness to the zone.

Cohesion and balance are paramount, and it’s not just about the walls and the cabinetry. Displayed appliances and kitchen staples can also play a role in the background of the scheme you choose for your new kitchen. The overall goal is to ensure the space is harmonious within your home while being the statement you are looking for. 

Top Kitchen Colour Tips

A good place to start is with a colour scheme that speaks to you and your personality while enhancing your existing home decor and style. Colours are very personal. What some will love, others will not, and it’s important to understand that the hub of the home will get much more foot traffic from your direct family than your friends. So, choose your influence wisely. 

Also, consider your home’s style and the colours incorporated elsewhere. This will give you a good indication of what will and won’t work while ensuring the new kitchen is harmonious with the entire abode. 

It’s good to remember that your cabinet colour will be the prime colour in your kitchen. Typically, they dominate much more visual real estate in the space. The 60-30-10 colour rule states that 60% of the kitchen should be in one dominant colour, 30% should be in the secondary colour leaving 10% for accents – this can include wood/natural tones. Choosing two colours will create a good balance, with the primary colour for your cabinets and a complementary/contrasting hue for other surfaces. The key is not to overdo it. If you want additional colours consider hints of colour through appliances or splashback details. Think pops, not blocks of colour, and ensure the two dominant colours you choose do not overwhelm each other. 

Major appliances can also play a vital role with colours – refrigerators, dishwashers, and even the kitchen sink. Whiteware tends to do well with white and light colours, while stainless steel can flatter vibrant hues, browns, and greys. Considering how the colours will complement or exaggerate each other when put against other kitchen basics is a good idea. Changing the colour of your kettle or toaster is an easy and affordable process, while investing in a whole new refrigerator may not be an option or even considered until the kitchen is complete. 

Balance is important, and this also includes your benchtops and flooring. These two tones can help balance the colours of your cabinets and allow the entire space to feel grounded. Many top kitchen designers will suggest ensuring the benchtops and flooring coordinate and match correctly. If you are replacing flooring, this can be a simple process; however, if you intend on keeping your existing flooring, careful consideration will ensure you keep the space manageable.

Popular Kitchen Colours & Combinations

Green Kitchens – Green hues are certainly all the rage and can allow you to invite the outside indoors while being versatile with additional textures. They are warm and inviting while possessing a natural component to the design. Utilising neutral, light earthy tones alongside a darker emerald shade can create a wonderful accent in your new kitchen. Also, consider pops of wooden texture to add warmth. Gold and brass also work wonders alongside green kitchens and can be used in accent points such as handles and lighting. With so many shades available, you can create a stunning masterpiece by featuring apple, olive, sage, or lively lime. Rich darker shades can create a classic feel, while light pops of green on splashbacks and focal points can add fun to the space.

Monotone and Black/White Kitchens – a trendy and classic combination that can undoubtedly add wow to your new space. Elegant and bold, this colour scheme is a sophisticated option that suits many modern homes. Montone combines two primary colours – typically black and white. However, many homeowners also opt for charcoals and beige instead of block blacks and bright whites for softer looks. It’s all about contrast and boldness. 

Neutral Kitchens – A timeless option for many homes that utilises a neutral colour palette to accentuate the space while adding an important element of light. They are perfect for smaller spaces – think beige, taupe, and cream alongside the added texture of wood grains to increase the detail of warmth. Neutral colours also work wonderfully with darker, bolder colours to add exciting contrast points and will pair with almost any colour on the palette wheel. If a completely white kitchen is too cold, consider combining it with different shades of white, light green, blue or grey.

Blue Kitchens – As with their green cousins, choosing a blue combination is popular in current kitchen design. Dramatic navy blue paired with neutrals, creams, and whites can add a lovely contrast and allow the space to ground. Darker shades work well as block colours, particularly in larger areas. Add warmth to dark tones with gold, brass, copper, or wooden focal points, or head in the contemporary direction with chrome. Lighter shades of blue will create a coolness to a kitchen, particularly when paired with stainless steel/nickel accessories and handles. Lighter shades also pair well with yellow and pink. If you are short on space, choose a lighter blue, while larger kitchens can make a statement with deep dark bolder hues.

Colour plays a massive role in our everyday lives, and getting it right can be tricky. However, with the right professional advice, you can ensure that the colour hues you choose complement your home while adding that all-important wow factor. Talk to our Mint Kitchen Group specialist kitchen designers today!